I currently own a 60D with various EF lenses. I don't always want to lug that around and would like something lighter and smaller but still be able to get quality shots. While I know the SL1 can't be put in your pocket it can be thrown in a purse. All I would need is the body. My son has the Fuji which is fantastic but your talking 3x the price. Any thoughts? None of the stores around has the SL1 in yet so I can't really play with it.Thanks !!! thruthelense

Actually I too have been contemplating on getting the SL1 for myself (to have my Sigma 150-500 OS, permanently mounted on it ... which would give me an awesome 800mm reach, something which I miss after I sold my 7D & 60D) ... I had originally planned on getting a Sigma 150-500 OS for my Nikon D7100 and sell my current Sigma 150-500 OS for Canon Mount ... but I'm still a bit undecided about which one to get ... so thanks for asking this question, its helping me out as well ... having read some of the replies here, I am now leaning towards EOS SL1 (100D), but still undecided

I tried an SL-1 out yesterday at Best Buy and liked the compact size and placement of controls. The viewfinder was decent, much preferred to the Electronic viewfinder on the EOS-M and other ILC's.

It's really small, makes the other Rebels look huge by comparison. With a 40mm pancake lens, its extremely compact. With a more versatile EF-S 15-85mm its a nicely balanced and small enough to take anywhere.

I'm seriously thinking about selling my 7D, which I seldom use anymore, replacing it with a SL-1.

Actually I too have been contemplating on getting the SL1 for myself (to have my Sigma 150-500 OS, permanently mounted on it ... which would give me an awesome 800mm reach, something which I miss after I sold my 7D & 60D) ... I had originally planned on getting a Sigma 150-500 OS for my Nikon D7100 and sell my current Sigma 150-500 OS for Canon Mount ... but I'm still a bit undecided about which one to get ... so thanks for asking this question, its helping me out as well ... having read some of the replies here, I am now leaning towards EOS SL1 (100D), but still undecided

get a used 7d...i am thinking to get a 100D to replace the 50D but not planning for sure to use it with a so long tele (avifauna?); just to use it where a reliable AF servo isnt important

As Canon has absolutely no intention of bringing out small and compact EF-S primes, I am personally going with micro-4/3 for this aspect of my photography ... Canon will from now only be for the tele-photo stuff.

Logged

Happily ignoring the laws of physics and the rules of photography to create better pictures.

These r the kind of questions which start arguments and make divorce lawyers wealthy. Dump the old gal for the young spirited model who just fascinates u with her sleek lines and taste in lenses. If u really like the Canon u have I agree with others: stay the course and buy another Canon to find a second home 4 your lenses. But if u want to experiment w/o getting rid of your soul mate than pick up a new one at the corner store and take her for a spin. There is no answer. Only u can decide. Is the IQ good enough? How's that DR. What's the ISO capacity? That's all old school. You want the latest. You know what. Open the wallet and get yourself the one u've been eyeing. That's the only way u'll ever know.

I can't speak as to the SL1 or the NEX6 as I haven't had a chance to play with them. I do have a few words about the X-E1. Nice build and capable to delivering terrific images. I also like the Fuji lens line up. The EVF in the Fuji is sad. The refresh rate on it is fantastically slow. Constantly jumping around until you depress the shutter release down halfway, which if you are in MF means that the camera won't focus anymore, at all. If you release the shutter button you get your MF back but the EVF begins jumping around again. If you choose AF, its painfully slow. My 6y/o Lumix GF1 eats its lunch in focus speed. Also, the Fuji in AF never seems to just focus and lock on, it always passes the point of focus by a small amount and then returns to focus and locks in. Way too slow for me.

I hate bringing my 5D anywhere because it is so large. It doesnt matter how well the 5D takes photos if it just stays home most of the time.

That's a really lame excuse for keeping an awesome camera at home ... unless of course the person is physically incapable of carrying that camera.

Lol. I hate NOT taking my 5D anywhere because it's so large, so now, in those situations, I whack the pancake on and throw it in my handbag. I am interested in doing the same with the SL1 when I CAN'T take the 5D anywhere because I'm physically incapable of carrying that camera.

However, I'm waiting for more pancakes to make it truly compact. Is it possible to make a 15, 20, 24mm pancake?

I currently own a 60D with various EF lenses. I don't always want to lug that around and would like something lighter and smaller but still be able to get quality shots. While I know the SL1 can't be put in your pocket it can be thrown in a purse. All I would need is the body. My son has the Fuji which is fantastic but your talking 3x the price. Any thoughts? None of the stores around has the SL1 in yet so I can't really play with it.Thanks !!! thruthelense

You may be able to throw a SL1 into a purse, but how many EF lenses are small enough so that you could throw it into your purse with a lens attached? In my case, more often than not the lens is bigger and heavier than a FF body (esp. the better EF zooms). Saving a couple of inches and ounces by getting a smaller DSLR seems an odd way to go about weight/bulk reduction unless the only lens you want to use is the 40mm pancake. (I recently supplemented my Canon FF gear with a mirrorless camera - not one of those you mention, but an Olympus OM-D - great ergonomic design, appealing aesthetic design + better lens selection than any similar system.)

tl;dr: - I though about SL1, but can't see it being a solution because lenses are large, other than pancake, and pancake is too long on AP-C. - Nex is the best overall compromise with powerzoom 16-50: budget version is Nex 3N, splurge on yourself is Nex 6- Fuji X10 is weirdly attractive and fairly versatile camera, if you buy used for not too much money- Nikon V1 is good beach camera for parents of small kids, if you can still find it on clearance

Long explanation:I had same dilemma (find small body to accompany my 6D) and I tried, bought, stole, sold or borrowed many, many camera trying to solve it: Canon G15, Sony RX100, Panasonic LX7, Panasonic GF5, Oly PM1, Nikon J1, Nex F3 and 5R, Sony A57. These are all gone, but here are ones that are left:

Sony NEX 3N with powerzoom - great compact solution for $500. If I were not stingy, I could have gotten NEX 6 with the same lens for few hundreds more - grip itself may be worth it (plus EVF, and faster AF), but IQ is the same.

Fuji X10 - very beautiful object, and tactile experience camera. I keep thinking I don't need sensor that small, and I keep being surprised with quality of the pictures and colors. I bought it twice: I returned new one I bought (too expensive), but then I bought used one as it kept bugging me, and has some magic draw for me. It could be leather case , or maybe I'm ok with throwing $300 on a gorgeous toy? The only compact camera to not disappoint, and yes, I prefer it to RX100, though technically it's not better... Not sure about X20, supposed to be better, but sensor is a bit more traditional (though NOT traditional), and X10 sensor has couple of neat tricks that I love....

Nikon V1 - I just picked up one on ridiculous sale for $299. Not impressed with IQ, but AF is insane, and because of small sensor, even when it misses, deep DOF usually saves it. Good ONLY in good light (otherwise average)!!! But great parents camera for outdoors, silly good 60 frames/sec and great slow motion mode. I'm still debating if I should return it (I'm still inside of 2 weeks return period), but I'm taking my twins to Greece soon, first hot vacation, and I enjoy though of footage and pics that may come out of it, just because of the speed of the camera. Otherwise, inferior to both Nex 3N and Fuji X10 in terms of pictures appeal.

Fuji X10 - and yes, I prefer it to RX100, though technically it's not better...

I've been thinking about buying a RX100. Almost everybody seems to love them, just curious what you didn't like about it.

It's a good camera, but Nex 3N is almost as small, and IQ is better. When shooting inside, and there isn't much light, it deeps fast into higher ISO, as lens is slow on the long end. I think I didn't quite like how it renders colors and noise starting at around ISO 800. Attached is one picture at ISO 200(play-1-22) and another ISO 800(kids-1-67), maybe you'll feel the same?

But I guess, it just didn't charm me enough for a VERY high purchase price in Canada ($699+tax = $800). There is a bit of intangibility about it, and it also could be part of the handling, which is very matter of fact point and shoot. I already had 6D and Nex 3N at that point, so couldn't see need to keep RX100.

I was gentler towards Fuji, because I paid a lot less (used $300), and it surprises me occasionally with one of it's trick modes... One pic attached(play-1-7)...

Money no object, I think you will be happy with RX100, as long as you keep expectations at the bay (it's not DSLR quality)